Temperature controlling bag



April 8, 1941.

V. B. PADELFORD TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING BAG Filed May 13, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 VALERIE B. PADELFORD April 8, 1941- v. B. PADELFORDTEMPERATURE CONTROLLING BAG Filed May 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VALERIEB. PADELFORD Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,237,971TEMPERATURE CONTRQLLING BAG Valerie B. Padelford, Washington, D. C.

Application May 13, 1938, Serial No. 207,818

2 Claims.

This invention relates to temperature con trolling bags for use inmedical and surgical cases and has particular relation to a bagespecially adapted for use on that portion of the head adjacent the eyesincluding that portion of the forehead directly above the nose.

Certain diseases and deformities of the head affect portions adjacent tothe eyes and lower part of the forehead. In treating these cases, it isoften necessary to place a hot or cold bag at the affected portions, forexample, in the treatment of sinusitis, it is often desirable to place acold compress or temperature controlling bag on the areas adjacent theeyes and particularly at the frontal bone above the nose. To do thiswith the ordinary bag it is necessary to cover up the eye or eyes and inaddition the bag sometimes does not fit very closely to the irregularsurfaces to which application of the bag is necessary.

In order to remove some of the difliculties in the treatment of theaforementioned cases, I have provided a bag which is described in myPatent No. 2,101,628. It is understood that the present invention is animprovement upon the invention therein described.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedtemperature controlling bag for use upon the face and adjacent the eyesof the patient.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a temperaturecontrolling bag for application to the head adjacent the eyes withoutinterfering with the use of the eyes, by applying the temperaturecontrolling bag principally around the eyes as well as to the lowerportion of the forehead.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a temperaturecontrol bag of the general shape of spectacles and having means forholding lenses in position over openings in the bag to provide foruninterrupted use of the eyes while the bag is applied to the face ofthe wearer.

Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of apair of complementary temperature controlling bags which may be made tocorrespond to the contours of the right and left sides of the face andhaving means to secure the two bags together above the lower portion ofthe nose and also means to secure the bag in place at the desiredposition.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification andclaims.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of myinvention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of my invention showing both sides integral.

Fig.2 is a cross section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form wherein the two halves areconstructed separately but secured together in close proximity when inuse.

Fig. 5 is a modified form of my invention showing closures for each halffor the insertion of ice or water when these substances are used as theheat transfer medium.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental top plan view of the structure illustrated inFig. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to the same or similar partsthroughout the specification and drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I0 designates the main bodyof the temperature control bag. The bag I0 is provided with openings IIin proper position to register with the eyes of the patient in orderthat the use of the eyes may be retained while the temperature controlbag is in use. Adjacent the center of the bag as at l2, it will benoted, that the outer wall and inner wall are preferably securedtogether along the line of position of the bridge of the nose of thepatient. This is to provide a bag which will fit the usual face and becomfortable to the wearer.

The upper portion of the bag, it will be noted, extends substantiallystraight from one section to the other in order to provide a heattransfer surface between the lower portion of the forehead and the bag.This portion is designated l3 on Fig. 1. At the sides of the bag arelocated snap fasteners M to which may be secured adjustable straps IS.The straps [5 pass around the head and hold the bag in place. It will beunderstood that while one strap is shown in the present invention, anynumber of straps and snap fasteners l4 may be used, as desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 1, any suitable or well known chemicalsubstance which slowly takes up or gives out heat, may be placed withinthe bag during manufacture after which the bag opening is sealed.

In Fig. 4, I have shown the bag made in two halves H0, H0". These aresecured together by means of snap or other fasteners I II which,

hold the two halves together. It will be noted in this form of theinvention that the snap fasteners III are preferably at the front andtop. These, with the fasteners H4 and corresponding adjustable straps l5will hold the two halves H0, Hu in proper relation to each other and tothe face in order that that portion adjacent the lower part of theforehead will be contacted by the bag.

Attached to one side of the bag I have shown on Fig. 4 a flange H5 ofsuitable size for the insertion of lenses of spectacles.

In use, the lenses are inserted behind the flanges H5 and the bag servesboth as a temperature controlling bag and also as a spectacle frame.This feature of the invention is applicable to any of the various formswhich may be made and also to the form of the invention described in theaforesaid patent.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, a thickened portion 20! is provided with aslit to the interior of the bag and is held with any suitable clampingmeans as also described in the aforesaid patent. This feature is usedwhen the invention is applied to a temperature control bag using ice orwater for cooling or heating the face at the contacted places.

In using the invention, the strap or straps l are adjusted to the properlength-t0 fit the wearers head when the bag is in place. After the bagis prepared for use by being placed in a hot or cold medium, the strapI5 is secured to the bag by the snap M, the bag being so adjusted thatthe portion I2 is above the nose and the openings l l for the eyes arein registry with the eyes of the patient- In the case of a patienthaving only one side of the face affected, the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 4 would perhaps be preferable. In this case, only one sideof the bag need be prepared for application, the other one merelyserving as a balance.

In case thewearer desires to read while the bag is in place, the lensesof the proper type may be slipped in place behind the holding means I I5as shown in Fig. 4. In this way, the bag may serve as a spectacle frameand additional provision made against the discomfort which mightotherwise be suffered by the, patient.

egan The material of which the bag is made would depend upon whether thebag is constructed for the use with ice and water or for use with aprepared chemical. It is believed that rubber and rubberized cloth aresuitable materials for the construction. The front wall of the bag maybe made slightly thicker in the vicinity of the opening for the eye inorder to make a stable structure for the application of thelens-supporting means H5.

While I have described and illustrated my in vention in detail, I desireto have it understood that modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within its scope asclaimed.

Having described my invention, claim is:

1. A temperature controlling device comprising a chambered body offlexible material extending from one side of the face of the wearer tothe other and having openings for the eyes, the lower edge being belowbut adjacent the eyes and having a portion of the chambered body at thelower edge of the forehead and the upper end of the nose bridge, thebody having its upper portion in What I contact .with the lower centralportion of the forehead, the device being in separable symmetricalhalves corresponding to the sides of the face with the heat conductingsurfaces of the halves in close proximity to each other, the heattransfer surfaces of the halves coming together at the abutting line.

.2. A temperature controlling device comprising a two-chambered body offlexible material extending from one side of the face of the wearer tothe other and having openings for the eyes, the chambers beingsymmetrically separated by partition means, the upper portion of achambered wall contacting with the lower portion of the forehead frompoints beyond the eyes on opposite sides of the face and being incontact with the upper part of the bridge of the nose and havingchambered portions below the eyes extending to and ending adjacent thecheek bone and extending to and ending in positions adjacent to theopposite sides of the nose.

VALERIE B. PADELFORD.

